寺: the kanji for temple
寺 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means temple. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
寺 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
寺 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ジ (ji)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 寺院じいん · jiin | temple |
| 社寺しゃじ · shaji | shrines and temples |
てら (tera)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 寺てら · tera | temple |
| お寺おてら · otera | temple |
| 山寺やまでら · yamadera | mountain temple |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 京都にはたくさんのお寺がある。Kyōto ni wa takusan no otera ga aru.There are many temples in Kyoto.
- この寺院は八百年前に建てられた。Kono jiin wa happyakunen mae ni taterareta.This temple was built eight hundred years ago.
- 大みそかに寺で鐘をついた。Ōmisoka ni tera de kane o tsuita.I rang the temple bell on New Year's Eve.
- 山寺まで長い階段を上った。Yamadera made nagai kaidan o nobotta.I climbed the long stairs up to the mountain temple.
- 社寺を巡る旅を楽しんだ。Shaji o meguru tabi o tanoshinda.I enjoyed a trip visiting shrines and temples.
Questions about 寺
How many strokes does 寺 have?
寺 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 寺?
The on readings are ji (ジ). The kun readings are tera (てら).
What JLPT level is 寺?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Places, land and buildings
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 寺
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.